The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-02-02
HER BOATMAN.

Here and there the moonbeams fell
upon the surface of the water. great
spots of silvery Wilderness, amidst the
dark shadows cast by the heavy foliage
of the cedar shrubbery which grew be-
tween the almost perpendicular rocks of
the high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface of the
water they reared themselves, and at
one point they jutted forward as-if to
salute each other. while the river be-
meath them deepened and narrowed.
AT this point bridge had once been
thrown aerossa bridge which had be-
come a complete ruin. one timber alone
remaining to mark the spot one long
and narrow beam-it could not have
been more than six inches IN width
still maintained its place, and in mute
language informed the stranger that
once there had been connection be-
tween Rocky Hill and the mountains
on the other side.
Upon the surface of the river there
was small rowboat, containing slen-
der, crouching form wrapped in a dark
cloak
From the top of the bank upon either
side this rowboat would have been in
visible. but it was there, making its
way up and down past the rocky butt
ress which upheld the beam, always
avoiding the moonlit spots upon the
river.
The sounds of carousal were usurp-
ing the place of the quiet OF the night.
the drunken jest and the course laugh
ter breaking in upon the sentimental
notes of Home, Sweet Home sung,
You would have averred, by some lone
" youth who was far from the scenes
OF his boyhood-came plainly to the
ears of this silent watcher upon the riv-
er, who, it seemed, could not tear her.
self away from the sounds which came
from the saloon upon the rivers bank
Once only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair, uptlTned face.
1t was the face of a woman who
should never have been in that wild,
lonely spot, listening for the sound of
a voice that had grown to address her
with refined words which were the
cruelist of the cruel. waiting there up
on that lonely river. for she knew not
what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married,
when very Young, u man whom she
had worshipped as the embodiment of
manly worth and the perfection of
manly beauty. Friends and relatives
had crowded about her with envious
congratulations, and for time her
life was perfect happiness.
But change had come. Fred War
ner was not what he had seemed. On
" few short weeks of happiness, and
the handsome husband plunged into
the widest dissipation. Friends re-
manned to her as long as the money re-
manned, AND then they began to hint
that perhaps Muriel was not altogether
blameless.
This was something which the spir-
tied wife could not stand. She broke
with relatives and friends. and chung to
the dissipated man who was her hus-
band. From one city 10 another he had
dragged her with him, and now he had
deserted her and she had followed him.
His was the cultured voice, which
warbled of .Home, Sweet Home. +"
while his wife was penniless, half
crazed creature, out upon the river.
And she was penniless, for, regard
less of food or shelter, she had paid
out her last cent for the use of the
boat which brought her, unseen. yet
nearer to him.
A quick. sharp report broke in up
on the-mellow voice of the singer
1t was repeated again and again.
It was the report of revolver.
Meriel could hear the excited shouts.
the heavy trampling of feet, the bang
ing OF door, and then the weird cry,
"Mufier!n
Half paralyzed. the frightened wo-
man rested upon her oars just under
the beam which had once belonged to
the old bridge.
The sound of heavy feet. rapidly
approaching. came from the bank
close at hand. and then a dark form
rushed out between her and the moon
Iii sky above her.
Ii was q mans figure, and he was at
tempting to cross the river upon the
narrow beam.
Excited shouts and the tramp of
hurried feet followed him to the rivers
brink.
Stop" shouted voice. Il Il arrest
YOU for murder
No reply came from the escaping
figure. which sped nmbly along its
narrow way.
a sharp chorus of revolvers follow
ed shot after shot was fired. and then
the dark figure wavered, the hands
grasped wildly at the air, and then
there was a fall.
The water deluged Mnriel with
shower Of drops as the body entered
the water. Shouts and the exultant re-
treating voices held her attention until
She felt something creeping into the boat
behind her.
She turned I and Euttered a faint
shrek.
a man, and more than likely the
murderer, had taken possession OF her
little craft.
Give me the oars. said "A stern,
musical voice.
s'You are not wounded. then, = She
said, shrinking away from the dripping
figure.
II am not wounded returned the
voice, and then silently the boat was
rewed into the deepest shadows and up
the stream.
Moment after moment crept Dv.
The moon went down, darkness fell
entirely over the sluggish waves Of the
river. and yet the strange pair were
a low.